Iowa State’s Milan Momcilovic is statistically the best 3-point shooter in men’s college basketball.
The Iowa State player uses a simple technique to maintain his form.
Momcilovic says one word to himself before he shoots: jellybean.
Battling Doubts on the Court
Momcilovic admitted he would often think something was wrong with his shot. He questioned his follow through and the arc of the ball.
To combat these doubts, he began working with a sports psychologist who suggested a simple technique: focusing on a single word before each shot.
“Think about something, just one word, before you shoot,” said Momcilovic.
The ‘Jellybean’ Technique
The sports psychologist suggested using a food item. Momcilovic chose ‘jellybean’.
“(Dr. Myrvik) suggested using a food item. I don’t know why I picked ‘jellybean,’” Momcilovic told The Athletic. “Maybe because it’s a little longer word? It’s not even my favorite candy.”
He doesn’t say “jellybean” out loud, explaining that “It’s just in my head”.
He admits he will go full games without using it at all.
“It’s more for in practice,” he said. “You practice your shot so many times, and you sometimes get thoughts that creep in your head that maybe something’s wrong. If I say it before I’m shooting, it’s a way to not think about the shot.”
Stats Don’t Lie
Momcilovic’s focus is paying off.
He is shooting 49.3 percent, which is the best in Division I men’s college hoops, on 7.6 attempts per game.
- His 134 made 3-pointers are the most in the sport.
- He earned second-team All-Big 12 honours.
- He is averaging a team-high 17.2 points for No. 2 seed Iowa State.
He improved to 39.6 percent from 3-point range as a sophomore but fully locked in this season, shooting 51.2 percent from the field overall for an effective field goal percentage of 67.9 percent, plus 87.8 percent on free throws.
The Iowa State Cyclones are 29-7 this season and trying to reach the Elite Eight for the first time since 2000.
From High School to College Success
Momcilovic played high school basketball in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, where he first met sports psychologist Dr. Matthew Myrvik.
He admits that he didn’t really need much help on the mental side in high school as a four-star prospect, but he struggled early in college. He made 36 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc as a freshman, a perfectly reasonable rate, but not up to his standards.
His dad insisted on Zoom sessions with Myrvik, who has worked with NBA players for the Milwaukee Bucks.
They discussed different topics and techniques, but Momcilovic said this year the “jellybean” thing seemed to click.
Momcilovic said he is “shooting way better this year than I was last year, so it probably worked a little bit”.
No. 2 seed Iowa State faces No. 6 Tennessee in the Sweet 16 on Friday.